Their Eyes Were Watching God Group

Topic: Is there racism in "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Hurston?

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1

rob098

Please support your argument with at least 3 supporting quotes or just tell me the part where the incidents happen.

2

mwestwood

While Hurston's novel does not address racism as later "social protest" novels by writers such as James Baldwin did in the 1960s, the setting places the narrative in a time of such division between races.  However, rather than addressing the relations between races, Ms. Hurston addresses the interrelationships of African-Americans.  For instance, in the section in which Janie has married the mayor of an all African-American town, there is yet conflict: Some are envious of the mayor and the mayor is extremely possessive and jealous of Janie. To keep other men from being attracted to her, he insists that she cover her hair and dress plainly and not socialize with the men in front of the store.  Her spirit repressed by his possessiveness and his insults in Chapter 7 when he belittles her before customers, is again despondent.  Her independent spirit must be free; she begins to daydream as she has done when married to her first husband.

After Joe's death, Janie realizes that she has been living "under a cloak" and begins to discover her sense of self which is the main theme of "Their Eyes Were Watching God."  In Chapter 9 the image of the horizon is used to symbolize (Oprah's movie has Janie in the water looking at the sky) the expanse of life.  Janie reflects that Nanny took this horizon and "pinched it into such a little bit of a thing that she could tie it around her neck tight enough to chokde her."  Janie wants more.

3

rob098
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